Ash tray assembly

ABSTRACT

An ash tray assembly of the type suitable for use in automotive vehicles including an integral plastic tray for receiving refuse and a metal support casing supporting the receptacle for movement between open and closed positions. A protrusion extends downwardly from the metal support and into the tray to coact with the rear wall of the tray to provide a stop means which limits opening movement of the tray. Projections extend from the sides of the tray and coact with grooves in the sidewalls of the metal support means for guiding movement of the tray between the open and closed positions. The rearmost projections on each side of the tray are disposed over a discontinuity or enlargement in the grooves when the tray is in the open position whereby the tray may be pivoted about a pair of more forward projections to move the rearmost projection downwardly into the enlargement thereby rendering ineffective the stop means by moving the rear wall out of interfering engagement with the downwardly extending protrusion to allow the tray to be removed from the support means. The enlargements in the grooves have slanted walls whereby the protrusions are forced into a wedged engagement with the sidewalls as the sidewalls flex outwardly thereby biasing the rearmost projections upwardly into the path of normal movement along the grooves.

United States Patent 11 1 Clemett, Jr.

[ 1 June 5, 1973 [54] ASH TRAY ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Edwin F. Clemett,Jr., Detroit,

Mich.

[7 3 1 Assignee: McCord Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

, Mich.

[22] Filed: NOV. 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 200,493

Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Att0rneyGerald E. McGlynn, Jr., Paul J.Reising, Harold W. Milton, Jr. et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT An ash tray assembly of the type suitable for use inautomotive vehicles including an integral plastic tray for receivingrefuse and a metal support casing supporting the receptacle for movementbetween open and closed positions. A protrusion extends downwardly fromthe metal support and into the tray to coact with the rear wall of thetray to provide a stop means which limits opening movement of the tray.Projections extend from the sides of the tray and coact with grooves inthe sidewalls of the metal support means for guiding movement of thetray between the open and closed positions. The rearmost projections oneach side of the tray are disposed over a discontinuity or enlargementin the grooves when the tray is in the open position whereby the traymay be pivoted about a pair of more forward projections to move therearmost projection downwardly into the enlargement thereby renderingineffective the stop means by moving the rear wall out of interferingengagement with the downwardly extending protrusion to allow the tray tobe removed from the support means. The enlargements in the grooves haveslantedwalls whereby the protrusions are forced into a wedged engagementwith the sidewalls as the sidewalls flex outwardly thereby biasing therearmost projections upwardly into the path of normal movement along thegrooves.

15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH s m 3.737.207

I N VEN TOR.

AT TOR NEYS PATENTEUJUN 5 I875 3,737,207

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ATTORN ASH TRAY ASSEMBLY This invention relates to an ash tray assemblyof the type suitable for use in automotive vehicles. Normally suchassemblies are disposed in the dashboard of an automobile whereby thereceptacle or tray may be moved outwardly to an open position. Suchassemblies must have the capability of allowing the receptacle or trayto be removed from its support to allow the tray to be emptied.

Although such assemblies must provide the capability of allowing thereceptacle or tray to be removed from the support means, the receptacleor tray is normally movable between closed and open positions and somespecial manipulation of the tray is necessary in order to remove thetray from the support means. Normally this is accomplished by a movabletab or leaf spring disposed in the center and at the rear of the tray.This tab or support spring normally engages a stop in the support meansbut may be manually moved out of engagement with the stop to allow thereceptacle or tray to be removed from the support means. Examples ofsuch an assembly are shown in US. Pats. Nos. 2,462,397; 2,809,977;3,460,877 and 3,521,938.

Although such assemblies work very satisfactorily they do include movingparts in that the centrally disposed tab must be movable and because ofits structure the trays are not susceptible to unitary or integralconstruction.

Accordingly, it is an object and feature of this invention to provide anash tray assembly including receptacle means for receiving refuse andsupport means for supporting the receptacle means for movement betweenopen and closed positions with stop means for limiting opening movementof the receptacle means in the open position and guide and followermeans interconnecting the receptacle means and support means for guidingmovement of the receptacle means between open and closed positions andfor allowing the receptacle means to be moved to a movable positionrendering the stop means ineffective to allow the receptacle means to beremoved from the support means thereby eliminating moving parts andfacilitating the use of an integral one piece receptacle means.

In correlation with the foregoing object and feature it is anotherobject and feature of this invention to provide such an assembly whereinthe guide and follower means includes at least one guideway and at leastone follower guided by the guideway along a path as the receptacles movebetween open and closed positions.

In correlation with the foregoing objects and features it is anotherobject and feature of this invention to provide such an assembly whereinthe guideway has a discontinuity means for allowing the follower to bemoved out of the path of movement to render the stop means ineffectivefor removal of the receptacle means.

In correlation with the foregoing objects and features, it is anotherobject and feature of this invention to provide biasing means forbiasing the follower out of the discontinuity means and into the path ofmovement between the open and closed positions.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will bereadily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by referenceto the following detailed description when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the instantinvention and showing the receptacle means in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a view taken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1 and showingthe assembly partially broken away and in cross section;

FIG. 3 is a view taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 1 andpartially broken away and in cross section;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view partially broken away and in cross sectionsimilar to FIG. 1 but showing the receptacle or tray in the openposition;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially alongline 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially alonglines 66 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, an ash tray assembly of the type suitablefor use in automotive vehicles and constructed in accordance with theinstant invention is generally shown at 10.

The assembly 10 includes a receptacle means for receiving refuse andtakes the form of an integral one piece plastic tray generally indicatedat 12. The tray 12 includes spaced generally parallel sides 14 and frontand rear walls 16 and 18 respectively interconnecting the sides 14. Thefront wall 16 is decorative and extends downwardly below the bottom ofthe tray 12.

The assembly also includes support means comprising the metal casinggenerally indicated at 20 supporting the tray 12 for movement betweenopen and closed positions. The casing 20 is preferably made of metal andincludes sidewalls 22. The sidewalls 22 include lower attaching arms 24having holes 26 therein for attaching the metal casing 20 to vehiclestructure. A slot 28 separates the arm 24 from the remainder of the side22 to allow the side 22 to be flexible or movable outwardly, the purposeof which will become more clear hereinafter.

There is also included stop means generally indicated at 30 in FIGS. 3and 4 for limiting opening movement of the tray 12 to establish the openposition. More specifically, the stop means 30 includes a protrusion 32extending downwardly into the open top of the tray 12 and an abutment 34formed in the rear wall 18 of the tray. The protrusion 32 coacts withthe abutment 34 of the rear wall to limit opening movement of the tray12. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the protrusion 32 and the abutment 34 ofthe rear wall 18 have inclined ramps 36 and 38 which coact with oneanother during insertion of the tray into the support means 20 tofacilitate the movement of the abutment 34 past the protrusion 32 duringsuch insertion.

The assembly 10 also includes guide and follower means interconnectingthe tray 12 and the support means 20 for guiding movement of the tray 12between the open and closed positions and for allowing the tray 12 to bemoved to a removal position as illustrated in FIG. 4 rendering the stopmeans 30 ineffective thereby allowing the tray 12 to be removed from thesupport means 20. More specifically, the guide and follower meansincludes the guideways or grooves 40 and the followers or projections42, 44 and 46. The followers or projections 42, 44 and 46 are guided bythe guideways or grooves 40 along a path so that the projections movealong the grooves as the tray is moved between the open and closedpositions. It will be noted that there is a groove 40 extending alongeach side wall 22 of the metal support means 20 and there are threeprojections integral with and extending from each side 14 of the tray 12whereby .the projections 42, 44 and 46 in the grooves 40 interconnectthe sides 14 of the tray 12 and the adjacent sidewalls 22 of the supportmeans 20. The first and second projections 42 and 44 are always disposedin the grooves 40 when the tray l2'is moved between the open and closedpositions whereas the third projection 46 on each side 14 is disposedout of the associated grooves 40 when the receptacle or tray 12 is inthe open position.

Each guideway or groove 40 includes a discontinuity means defined by anenlarged portion 48 for allowing the follower or projection 42 to bemoved out of the path of movement of the projection along the groove 40during movement between the open and closed positions to render the stopmeans 30 ineffective for removing the tray 12. More specifically, thefirst followers or projections 42 are aligned with the discontinuitymeans 48 when the tray is in the open position and the secondprojections 44 'coact with the grooves 40 so that the tray may berotated about the central axis of the second projections 44 to move thefirst projections or followers 42 out of the path and into thediscontinuity means 48 as shown in FIG. 4 fol-rendering the stop means30 ineffective.

There is also included biasing means for biasing the first follower orprojections 42 out of the discontinuity means or enlarged portion 48 andback into the normal path along the grooves 40. The biasing means maytake many forms but it comprises a slanted flexible wall defining theenlarged portion 48 as best shown in FIG. so that the first projections42 move into increased wedging engagement with the slanted walls of thesockets or enlarged portion 48 asit moves into the enlarged portions 48whereby the first projections 42 are urged back into the normal path ofmovement along the grooves 40. The support means 20 is metal and theslanted walls of the enlargements 48 are flexible by reason of the upperportions of the side walls 22 of the support means being flexible asdescribed hereinbefore as facilitated by the slots 28.

The operation of the device is quite simple in that the tray 12 may beinserted into the support means 20 by moving the projections 42, 44 and46 along the grooves 40. The tray 12 is normally moved between the openand closed positions and when in the open position further outwardmovement is limited by reason of the abutment 34 of the rear wall 18coacting with the protrusion 32 which extends downwardly from the top ofthe metal casing 20. If it is desired to remove the tray 12 foremptying, the tray is moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 wherethe front portion is pivoted upwardly about the axis of the secondprojections 44 to move the first projections 42 downwardly to theremoval position illustrated.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the aboveteachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be 1. An ash tray assembly of the type suitable for use inautomotive vehicles comprising: receptacle means for receiving refuse,support means supporting said receptacle means for movement between openand closed positions, stop means for limiting opening movement of saidreceptacle means to establish said open position, guide and followermeans interconnecting said receptacle and support means for guidingmovement of said receptacle means between said open and closed positionsand for allowing said receptacle means to be moved to a removal positionrendering said stop means ineffective to allow said receptacle means tobe removed from said support means, said guide and follower meansincluding at least one guideway and at least one follower guided by saidguideway along a path so that said follower moves along said guideway assaid receptacle means is moved between said open and closed positions,said guideway including a discontinuity means for allowing said followerto be moved out of said path to render said stop means ineffective forremoval of said receptacle means, and biasing means for biasing saidfollower out of said discontinuity means and into said path.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receptacle meansincludes spaced generally parallel sides and said support means includesside walls adjacent said sides of said receptacle means, and said guideand follower means includes one of said guideways and at least one ofsaid followers interconnecting each side of said receptacle to theadjacent side wall of said support means.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 including first and secondfollowers coacting with each of said guideways.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said receptacle meanscomprises an upwardly open tray having front and rear wallsinterconnecting said sides, said stop means includes a protrusionextending downwardly into said tray to coact with said rear wall tolimit opening movement of said tray.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein sai first follower isaligned with said discontinuity means when said tray is in said openposition and said second follower is coacting with said guideway so thatsaid tray may be rotated about an axis of said second follower to movesaid first follower out of said path and into said discontinuity meansfor rendering said stop means ineffective.

6. An assembly asset forth in claim 5 wherein each of said guidewayscomprises a groove and each of said followers comprises a projection.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 including biasing means forbiasing said first follower out of said discontinuity means and intosaid path. v

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said discontinuity meanscomprises an enlarged portion in each of said grooves. I

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said biasing meanscomprises a slanted flexible wall defining said enlarged portion so thatsaid first projection moves into increased wedging engagement with saidslanted wall as it moves into said enlarged portion whereby said firstprojection is urged back into said path.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said grooves are in saidsidewalls of said support means and said projections extend from saidtray.

1 1. An assembly as set forth in claim wherein said tray is an integralplastic member.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said support means ismetal and said slanted wall is flexible by reason of said side walls ofsaid support means being flexible.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 including a third projectioncoacting with each of said grooves, said third projections beingdisposed out of said grooves when said receptacle is in said openposition.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said receptacle meanscomprises an upwardly open tray tron.

1. An ash tray assembly of the type suitable for use in automotive vehicles comprising: receptacle means for receiving refuse, support means supporting said receptacle means for movement between open and closed positions, stop means for limiting opening movement of said receptacle means to establish said open position, guide and follower means interconnecting said receptacle and support means for guiding movement of said receptacle means between said open and closed positions and for allowing said receptacle means to be moved to a removal position rendering said stop means ineffective to allow said receptacle means to be removed from said support means, said guide and follower means including at least one guideway and at least one follower guided by said guideway along a path so that said follower moves along said guideway as said receptacle means is moved between said open and closed positions, said guideway including a discontinuity means for allowing said follower to be moved out of said path to render said stop means ineffective for removal of said receptacle means, and biasing means for biasing said follower out of said discontinuity means and into said path.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receptacle means includes spaced generally parallel sides and said support means includes side walls adjacent said sides of said receptacle means, and said guide and follower means includes one of said guideways and at least one of said followers interconnecting each side of said receptacle to the adjacent side wall of said support means.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 including first and second followers coacting with each of said guideways.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said receptacle means comprises an upwardly open tray having front and rear walls interconnecting said sides, said stop means includes a protrusion extending downwardly into said tray to coact with said rear wall to limit opening movement of said tray.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first follower is aligned with said discontinuity means when said tray is in said open position and said second follower is coacting with said guideway so that said tray may be rotated about an axis of said second follower to move said first follower out of said path and into said discontinuity means for rendering said stop means ineffective.
 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said guideways comprises a groove and each of said followers comprises a projection.
 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 including biasing means for biasing said first follower out of said discontinuity means and into said path.
 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said discontinuity means comprises an enlarged portion in each of said grooves.
 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said biasing means comprises a slanted flexible wall defining said enlarged portion so that said first projection moves into increased wedging engagement with said slanted wall as it moves into said enlarged portion whereby said first projection is urged back into said path.
 10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said grooves are in said side walls of said support means and said projections extend from said tray.
 11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said tray is an integral plastic member.
 12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said support means is metal and said slanted wall is flexible by reason of said side walls of said support means being flexible.
 13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 including a third projection coacting with each of said grooves, said third projections being disposed out of said grooves when said receptacle is in said open position.
 14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said receptacle means comprises an upwardly open tray having front And rear walls interconnecting said sides, said stop means includes a protrusion extending downwardly into said tray to coact with said rear wall to limit opening movement of said tray.
 15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said protrusion and said rear wall have inclined ramps which coact with one another during insertion of said tray into said support means to facilitate movement of said rear wall past said protrusion during such insertion. 